Effective December 1st, 2021, the National Lottery Authority (NLA) would be using a different broadcasting network for its live draws. The live draws has traditionally been a bailiwick of GBC TV, but this is set to change.
Speaking at a media engagement program in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of NLA, Mr. Sammi Awuku, revealed that this is one of several changes envisaged to be made to the broadcast of the draw.
The engagement took place on Saturday November 20, 2021, at the Best Western Plus Accra Beach Hotel near Nungua in Accra. It was attended by leading media personnel drawn from across the country, and top management of NLA.
Mr. Awuku stated that the change of GBC as the broadcaster of the draw follows the failure of state-broadcaster to respond to a letter NLA wrote to the state broadcaster on September 1st, which has not been responded to. He said that the NLA had sought to engage GBC about genuine concerns it has about the quality of broadcast by the state broadcaster, but GBC did not even bother to respond to the letter it wrote.
GBC has for decades enjoyed special relations with other state agencies, but has not accepted the challenge to modify its operations to live up to the standard of modern studios and broadcasting, largely spearheaded by private sector broadcasters.
There are indications that NLA pays significant fees to GBC for the broadcast of its live draw.
Mr. Awuku stated that indeed NLA pays significant revenue to GBC for the privilege to broadcast on its network, but also expected value for money.
Key Changes
Mr. Awuku revealed that NLA is currently in the process of effecting key changes to the live draw. Among the changes is the acquisition of five new and modern draw equipment to replace the current ones which were acquired in the 1973. The change would include the process of inserting the balls into the machine, which traditionally has had to be laboriously counted. This is set to change.
Again, the entire studio set would be replaced to reflect the modern digital age with commensurate lighting, background and setting. Mr. Awuku said that all resources have been made available to the team in charge to ensure that the changes are made.
The presenter is also set to be Ghanaian-born actress Jessica Williams, who has carved an image for herself as a vibrant presenter.
GBC, the state-broadcaster, has held the broadcast rights to the NLA live draw franchise for decades, but there has been increasing concerns as to the quality of broadcast. The franchise, a major viewer attractant in its own right, draws millions of viewers each time in Ghana and across the borders of the country in nations such as Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria and other African countries, who have come to depend on the NLA draw because of its integrity.
